Today the delegates attending the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) unanimously passed the Iranian government's proposal to extend the convention's highest protection to the critically endangered Luristan Newt, Neurergus kaiseri.

The species is now listed in Appendix I of the convention, which effectively outlaws all international trade in the species, and may impact trade within some countries too.

According to some estimates, the species may number as little as 500 in the wild. Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas, USA, has had enormous success in captive breeding this beautiful newt and is surely a lesson to other institutions around the world. With the right expertise and surprisingly little required resources, the zoo regularly produces more vigorous young newts than they can keep in-house.

Iran and its supporters cited the illegal collection of these newts for the international pet trade as the main cause of the newt's critically endangered status. Sale of wild caught animals through the Internet has exacerbated the situation, and the greater ramifications of the new "online" market for exotic animals has been the subject of much campaigning and discussion in Doha.

Pet owners and newt hobbyists have tried to assert that much of the online trade in wild caught Luristan newts has declined and is more and more subject to replacement with captive bred animals, which in turn has caused prices to drop from several hundred US dollars two or three years ago, to as little as USD $70 today. However, the listing of the newt as CITES Appendix I may effectively ban the sale of captive bred animals in the USA, because of that country's Lacey Act. Strict interpretation of the Lacey Act would mean all Luristan Newts in the USA could be ruled illegal. The ruling on enforcement has yet to be published by United States Fish and Wildlife but it seems likely that, at the very least, trade within the US across state lines must cease.

So while the listing obviously helps to reduce wild collection, it also negates any captive breeding efforts outside of officially sanctioned institutions like zoos and aquariums. Zoos must pick and choose the animals that they maintain, and newts rarely, if ever, make it into institutional collections due to their generally poor visibility as display animals and their specialist maintenance requirements. There is also very little institutional expertise when it comes to newts and salamanders - virtually no zoos have ever bred a species of tailed-amphibian.

Today's decision by the delegates meeting in Doha is a positive step for remaining Luristan newts in the wild, but the large shortfall in the required expertise and low availability of newt-friendly grants and funding may hamper any serious captive breeding and reintroduction efforts.

With all the hub bub that has surrounded this move by Iran to list this species in Appendix I, am I the only one left wondering if it's too long overdue to be of much help in saving the species? Only 500 specimens in a very restricted range? Can that number possibly be enough to ensure the survival of this species in the wild?

But it is, in fact, just speculation on my part. I base this speculation on a combination of available online information such as CITES, IUCN, TRAFFIC, and the limited published data that exists on N. kaiseri populations, as well as some personal communications with people who have actually seen and studied wild kaiseri.

An amphibian expert told me that since they are not listed with ESA c.b. are legal to sell within the U.S. If they do get listed a permit will be needed. I wouldn't be surprised if we never hear from USFW on this. They have not given official answers on some questionable dart frogs.

A very real problem here is that Iran clearly states no kaiseri have ever been exported legally. This makes them illegal, whether wild-caught imported or captive bred domestically, under interpretation of the Lacey Act of 1900.

Utmost caution is advised here, folks. It's been said many times, USFW has a habit of announcing their official position on certain topics with high-profile busts and confiscations.

I've had correspondence from DEFRA in the UK regarding the interpretation of the Appendix 1 listing. I will post the response here once I have permission and clarification on certain points. My initial feeling is that within the EU ownership certification costs will make breeding N.kaiseri in captivity financially impossible.

Also interesting that by now - 8 hours later - the ad has been removed.

The add is up. On Kingsnake.com you set your add up to run from 1 day to 30 days with several options in between. Most set up them up for 1 to 7 days so people don't email about out of date adds. This way most things in the want adds are current. My guess is the add ran out and Chris didn't repost right away.

I've had correspondence from DEFRA in the UK regarding the interpretation of the Appendix 1 listing. I will post the response here once I have permission and clarification on certain points. My initial feeling is that within the EU ownership certification costs will make breeding N.kaiseri in captivity financially impossible.

They promised to inform me when the new EU legislation was formally drawn up. They said it could be months so I wouldn't hold your breath. I imagine there are a whole host of issues surrounding group certification, legality, marking etc.

Has any EU keeper actually tried to certify kaiseri for trade since the listing? I suspect these things get pushed along more quickly when someone actually tries the system.

In the mean time you'd be wise to check with your local authority before selling kaiseri.

A very real problem here is that Iran clearly states no kaiseri have ever been exported legally. This makes them illegal, whether wild-caught imported or captive bred domestically, under interpretation of the Lacey Act of 1900.

Have there been any developments in this matter I may have missed? I purchased 6 CB juvenile N. Kaiseri from Philippe De Vosjoli via Sedgewick Zoo's captive breeding program last year, and I've just placed them in their breeding tank. I've reached out to Philippe about half a dozen times in an attempt to obtain some sort of documentation to certify that my animals are US CB (though I'm sure they are), but have only received responses when I asked if more were available, even though I didn't intend on purchasing any more. The only proof I have of where I obtained my animals is the Fedex shipping label which shows them sent from SandFire Dragon ranch in Nevada C/O Philippe, which I have retained. I am but a simple hobbyist, and worry about not being able to move the offspring to any other US hobbyists that may want them. Please advise!